Women’s Trade Unionism and Precarious Hospitality Labor in Global Tourism Economies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies | Vol. 11, No. 10, October 2026 | pp. 337–350

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001339

Article Type: Research Article

Title: Women’s Trade Unionism and Precarious Hospitality Labor in Global Tourism Economies

Names of Author: Farida Mwinyi¹ & Alessandro Conti²

Author's Affiliation: ¹Institute of Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; ²Department of Social and Political Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.

Abstract:
Coastal resort tourism represents a major source of foreign exchange and service-sector employment across East Africa and the Mediterranean, with women comprising the majority of housekeeping, laundry, and catering staff. However, seasonal outsourcing, zero-hour contracts, low wages, and pervasive sexual harassment by guests and supervisors characterize much of the hospitality workforce. Traditional male-dominated labor unions have historically neglected casualized female hotel workers, leaving them vulnerable to arbitrary dismissal. This paper investigates grassroots female union organizing and workplace safety campaigns within the hospitality sectors of Zanzibar, Tanzania, and southern Italy. Utilizing feminist labor studies and intersectional political economy, the research draws on interviews with 40 female hotel workers and union organizers. We demonstrate how women-led union committees utilize collective bargaining, panic-button safety protocols, and international ethical tourism certifications to secure dignified working conditions.

Keywords: Hospitality labor, women’s trade unionism, precarious work, tourism economy, workplace harassment, feminist labor studies, Tanzania, Italy

Manuscript Timeline: Received: September 10, 2026; Revised: October 10, 2026; Accepted: October 14, 2026; Published: October 15, 2026.

Citation: Mwinyi, F., & Conti, A. (2026). Women’s Trade Unionism and Precarious Hospitality Labor in Global Tourism Economies. African Journal of Gender and Women Studies, 11(10), 337–350. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJGWS/001339

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